When it comes to your business, you have thousands of decisions that need to be made on a regular basis. Choosing a security system is simultaneously the decision that you may feel the least motivated to make, but also one of the most important. You invest time, money, and hopes into your business, and you want to protect that investment, giving you the peace of mind knowing you’re covered. To have that peace of mind, you’ll want to ask a few questions to ensure you’ve got the right system that works for you. It’s important to remember that there’s not really a “best system” so much as the “best system for you.”
You’ll want to first consider the space you’ll be monitoring. The amount of space that needs coverage will impact many of the rest of the decisions you’ll need to make. Keep in mind, this can always be scaled later, but it’s good to plan ahead. For instance, if you’re running a retail location, you may want cameras on your cash register and safe location at first, but later may want to expand to cover your sales floor. You don’t necessarily need to set everything up on day one, but it can make the process run more smoothly if you begin planning from the beginning for the eventual expansion of security. This is also important if you’re looking at expanding your business down the road. If you have a restaurant and set up security for your front of house, knowing that you plan on adding a drive thru service at some point in the future is something that can help you plan your security now, at the least knowing you want a security system that can be easily amended down the road.
Consider the needs that make your business unique. Most security systems are set up to cover a variety of businesses, but you may have some specific needs that require adjustment. Are you likely to have a large amount of cash on premises? You may want to add a monitoring system that encompasses your safe, or buy a safe that has compatibility for alarm coverage. Is shoplifting a specific concern? Having wireless cameras that can be deployed to ensure thorough coverage of customer accessible areas will be important.
Another important question to consider will be whether you want a system that includes professional monitoring. This can allow you to have a more agile response in the case of a break in or other security occurrence. Most professional monitoring systems will also include coverage for other risks, such as fire. Without professional monitoring, you’re going to be stuck only using your security system after the fact, getting information that helps with reporting loss to the authorities, while professional monitoring can notify the authorities in the moment and provide a faster response. You’ll want to weigh these benefits with the cost that professional monitoring can include, and what the specific cost risks for your business are.
These are some of the basic facts to consider, but as you begin to sort through the wide array of options available, you’ll find dozens of other questions to ask. Our business security professionals are here to help though, and we have long years of experience to help you make the best choices for your business. Call us today!
